Written Answers Friday 18 April 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it made available to support the implementation of the test purchasing of alcohol pilot scheme; how much the pilot exercise as a whole cost to deliver, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these costs.

Shona Robison: The total cost of delivering the Fife Test Purchasing Pilot was £121,000, a breakdown of which is provided in the following table. The Scottish Government covered the costs of the pilot co-ordinator.

  Costs of Test Purchase Pilot

  

 
£


 Co-ordinator (Chief Inspector Grade)
 65,000


 Police officer time
 38,500


 Management time
 7,000


 Expenses for test purchasers
 5,000


 Media marketing
 5,500

Alcohol Misuse

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding it has made, and will make, available to police forces, local authorities and the Crown Office to support the national roll-out of the test purchasing of alcohol.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provided £33,000 for the Scottish Police Service to assist with the national media launch of the test purchasing of alcohol.

Alcohol Misuse

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many test purchases of alcohol have (a) been made and (b) resulted in failure in (i) on-sales and (ii) off-sales premises as defined by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, broken down by police force area.

Shona Robison: Information obtained from the Scottish Police Service, indicates that :

  (a) Six hundred and forty-four tests have been undertaken since test purchase went live across Scotland. 632 off-sales and 12 on-sales.

  (b)(i) There were four failures in respect of on-sales (33%). Two of the on-sales failures were in Fife and two in Strathclyde.

  (b) (ii) There were 87 failures in respect of off-sales (14%).

  The following table provides a breakdown per force.

  

 
 On Sales
 Off-Sales


 Tested
 Failed
 Tested
 Failed


 Central Scotland
 0
 0
 46
 3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 69
 15


 Fife
 7
 2
 65
 6


 Grampian
 0
 0
 11
 2


 Lothian and Borders
 0
 0
 51
 17


 Northern
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Strathclyde
 5
 2
 356
 43


 Tayside
 0
 0
 34
 1


 Scotland
 12
 4
 632
 87

Alcohol Misuse

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many test purchases of alcohol have (a) been made on a second occasion in premises which had already failed a test purchase of alcohol and (b) resulted in failure in (i) on-sales and (ii) off-sales premises as defined by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, broken down by police force area.

Shona Robison: Information obtained from the Scottish Police Service, indicates that:

  (a) there have been 91 second or subsequent test purchases made on premises which had already failed a test purchase of alcohol, and

  (b)(i) none of the second failures have occurred within on-sales premises.

  (b)(ii) all five second failures occurred within off-sales premises. One in Dumfries and Galloway, three in Lothian and Borders and one in Strathclyde. The following table provides a breakdown per force.

  

 
 On Sales
 Off-Sales


 No 2nd Tests
 Failed 2nd Test
 No 2nd Tests
 Failed 2nd Test


 Central Scotland
 0
 0
 3
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 15
 1


 Fife
 2
 0
 6
 0


 Grampian
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Lothian and Borders
 0
 0
 17
 3


 Northern
 0
 0
 0
 0 


 Strathclyde
 2
 0
 43
 1


 Tayside
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Scotland
 4
 0
 87
 5

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21 and (d) over 21 were admitted to hospitals in the Lothians to receive treatment for excess alcohol consumption in (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05, (iii) 2005-06, (iv) 2006-07 and (v) 2007-08.

Shona Robison: Table 1 shows the number of patients discharged from general acute hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis between 2003-04 and 2006-07, in Lothian NHS board area. Information for 2007-08 is not yet available.

  Table 2 shows the number of patients discharged from NHS psychiatric units and mental illness hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis between 2003-04 and 2005-06, in Lothian NHS board area. Information for 2006-07 and 2007-08 is not yet available.

  Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures, because where alcohol misuse is suspected but unconfirmed it may not be recorded by the hospital. Information is based on discharges rather than admissions because the data sources used are discharge summaries.

  Table 1: The Number of Patients Discharged from General Acute Hospitals in NHS Lothian with an Alcohol-Related Diagnosis, 2003-04 to 2006-07

  

 Age Group
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Under 15 Years
 36
 31
 30
 59


 15-18 Years
 117
 107
 130
 171


 19-21 Years
 135
 147
 136
 173


 Over 21 Years
 3,730
 3,875
 3,945
 4,039



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01), date: 15 April 2008.

  Table 2: The Number of Patients Discharged from Psychiatric Units and Mental Illness Hospitals in NHS Lothian with an Alcohol-Related Diagnosis, 2003-04 to 2005-06

  

 Age Group
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Under 15 Years
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 Years
 4
 4
 3


 19- 21 Years
 8
 11
 9


 Over 21 Years
 635
 636
 643



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR04), Date: 15 April 2008.

Ambulance Service

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10471 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 March 2008, what the total number of (a) emergency response and (b) non-emergency vehicles in the Scottish Ambulance Service’s (SAS’s) fleet was in each year since 2001, also broken down by SAS division.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table gives details of the numbers of emergency response and non-emergency response vehicles in the Scottish Ambulance Service’s fleet in each year since 2001-02.

  

 
 Vehicle Type
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 East Central
 Emergency 
 78
 83
 83
 86
 88
 86
 88


 Non-Emergency 
 116
 116
 116
 121
 122
 118
 116


 Others
 34
 36
 36
 40
 42
 38
 38


 Total
 228
 235
 235
 247
 252
 242
 242


 North East
 Emergency 
 58
 58
 59
 63
 68
 62
 62


 Non-Emergency 
 52
 52
 52
 57
 57
 55
 62


 Others
 23
 26
 26
 28
 28
 21
 22


 Total
 133
 136
 137
 148
 153
 138
 146


 North West
 Emergency 
 65
 65
 65
 66
 70
 68
 69


 Non-Emergency 
 24
 24
 25
 29
 29
 32
 28


 Others
 19
 20
 21
 24
 24
 22
 23


 Total
 108
 109
 111
 119
 123
 122
 120


 South East
 Emergency 
 69
 70
 70
 69
 70
 68
 70


 Non-Emergency 
 79
 79
 79
 85
 85
 85
 90


 Others
 60
 62
 62
 68
 68
 58
 61


 Total
 208
 211
 211
 222
 223
 211
 221


 South West
 Emergency 
 115
 115
 115
 133
 133
 121
 121


 Non-Emergency 
 118
 117
 119
 127
 128
 124
 133


 Others
 47
 49
 49
 55
 55
 48
 48


 Total
 280
 281
 283
 315
 316
 293
 302


 West Central
 Emergency 
 97
 108
 110
 111
 114
 125
 118


 Non-Emergency 
 129
 129
 129
 157
 157
 157
 155


 Others
 46
 50
 50
 51
 51
 49
 49


 Total
 272
 287
 289
 319
 322
 331
 322


 Scotland
 Total
 1,245
 1,276
 1,283
 1,386
 1,406
 1,354
 1,353*



  Information supplied by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  Note: *2007-08 figures vary from those provided in the answer to question S3W-10471 on 10 March 2008, as some vehicles are moved between divisions and are disposed of and replaced. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Ambulance Service

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10470 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 March 2008, how many complaints were registered against (a) emergency call-outs and (b) non-emergency bookings in each year since 1997, also broken down by Scottish Ambulance Service division.

Nicola Sturgeon: The data system used by the Scottish Ambulance Service to capture information on complaints does not include a field which distinguishes between emergency and non-emergency activity.

Ambulance Service

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average response time was for emergency ambulance call-outs in each year since 1997, also broken down by Scottish Ambulance Service division.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table gives details of the average response time for emergency call-outs in each year since 2003-04 broken down by Scottish Ambulance Service Division. 2003-04 was the first year during which priority-based dispatch was fully operational; figures for the earlier years are not comparable.

  

 SAS Division
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
2007-08


 East Central
 8.43
 8.16
 7.97
 8.77
 8.50


 North and West
 9.06
 9.51
 9.71
 9.21
 8.89


 North East
 8.27
 7.59
 7.37
 7.45
 7.12


 South East
 8.21
 8.13
 7.96
 8.92
 8.53


 South West
 9.71
 9.18
 8.70
 8.54
 8.22


 West Central
 8.93
 9.21
 8.93
 9.48
 7.89


 Scotland*
 8.6
 8.6
 8.4
 8.9
 8.2



  Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  Note: *Figure covers mainland Scotland only – Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles not subject to the same performance measures.

Ambulance Service

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drivers of (a) emergency response and (b) non-emergency vehicles were employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) in each year since 1997, also broken down by SAS division.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table gives details of the number of drivers of both emergency and non-emergency vehicles employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service in each year since 1997, also broken down by Ambulance Service division. In the case of the emergency services virtually all of these staff are either paramedics or technicians.

  

 
 1997
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 North East
 Emergency
 129
 134
 135
 144
 151
 163
 182


 Non-Emergency
 16
 16
 17
 20
 22
 27
 37


 North and West
 Emergency
 146
 151
 154
 165
 171
 176
 188


 Non-Emergency
 13
 13
 16
 16
 18
 19
 20


 East Central
 Emergency
 244
 257
 272
 277
 287
 304
 327


 Non-Emergency
 61
 66
 75
 85
 96
 114
 133


 West Central
 Emergency
 283
 293
 324
 334
 360
 383
 427


 Non-Emergency
 82
 85
 87
 89
 97
 116
 144


 South East
 Emergency
 196
 203
 209
 217
 224
 235
 262


 Non-Emergency
 36
 37
 39
 42
 48
 59
 80


 South West
 Emergency
 302
 309
 317
 325
 329
 350
 385


 Non-Emergency
 51
 56
 62
 69
 72
 85
 102


 Scotland
 Emergency
 1,300
 1,347
 1,411
 1,462
 1,522
 1,611
 1,771


 Non-Emergency
 259
 273
 296
 321
 353
 420
 516



  

 
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 North East
 Emergency
 191
 201
 222
 230


 Non-Emergency
 43
 49
 57
 65


 North and West
 Emergency
 194
 202
 209
 215


 Non-Emergency
 22
 25
 29
 36


 East Central
 Emergency
 332
 357
 377
 392


 Non-Emergency
 147
 156
 156
 187


 West Central
 Emergency
 442
 465
 483
 536


 Non-Emergency
 158
 186
 207
 267


 South East
 Emergency
 269
 292
 302
 325


 Non-Emergency
 85
 95
 101
 122


 South West
 Emergency
 410
 439
 452
 461


 Non-Emergency
 117
 134
 160
 188


 Scotland
 Emergency
 1,838
 1,956
 2,045
 2,159


 Non-Emergency
 572
 645
 710
 865



  Information provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Arts

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many publicly owned works of art are exhibited in government offices in areas where the public has no right of access.

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on rotation of publicly owned works of art exhibited in government offices.

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish and make easily accessible a list of all publicly owned works of art in its custody.

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for members of the public to view publicly owned works of art which are in secure areas of government buildings and cannot be moved.

John Swinney: All the works of art on display in Scottish Government buildings are in areas which have controlled entry. Requests for any item to go on public display would be considered positively as would a request to view a work of art. There is no policy of rotating works of art and decisions on where to display items are taken on a case-by-case basis.

  Details of the works of art at Victoria Quay have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44253). A list of the artworks in other Scottish Government buildings is currently being compiled and will be made available in the same way.

Audiology

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the provision of bilateral cochlear implants for children.

Shona Robison: The policy of the National Cochlear Implantation Programme is to continue to provide cochlear implantation unilaterally to adults and children, pending the results of robust trials that establish whether the incremental benefits of bilateral implantation over unilateral implantation justify the incremental additional costs. However, there are some exceptions to this policy, most particularly relating to implant after meningitis induced deafness.

Birds

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to protect important seabird populations.

Richard Lochhead: To date, 144 Special Protection Area’s (SPAs) have been classified in Scotland under the EC Birds Directive, 49 of which relate to seabird interests.

  We recognise that Scotland’s seabird populations are of European and Global renown.

  I am announcing today that I have asked SNH to lead a public consultation on proposals to extend 31 of our SPAs for seabirds into the marine environment.

  This will provide significant additional protection to Scotland’s coastal and marine biodiversity and also contribute to important global conservation commitments.

  I would encourage all stakeholders with an interest in how we manage Scotland’s seas to participate in the consultation, and particularly to comment on the scientific case for the extensions in order that I can take account of these comments.

  Although I do not envisage any impact on existing economic activity, I am also very interested in any information on the potential socio-economic impacts of the proposed extensions so that we can ensure the sound management of the sites in a way that takes account of such issues.

Building Standards

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the costs and benefits of the recommendations of the Sullivan Report, A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland .

Stewart Stevenson: Cost benefit analyses are undertaken as workstreams are progressed. In order to consider the low carbon Energy standards proposed for introduction in 2010, an assessment has been commissioned of the impact of higher standards on new housing and non-domestic buildings, including life cycle analyses. The Sullivan report refers to the other sustainability measures proposed for the building regulations in 2010 and assessments have already been completed of the cost impact of proposals for more demanding Noise and Fire standards that also would contribute to sustainable development.

Dentistry

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in conjunction with the Edinburgh Dental Institute and the General Dental Council in designing a course of education and training to help secure the registration of denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since July 2006, clinical dental technicians have been required to register with the GDC in order to practise.

  The Edinburgh Dental Institute has submitted a course curriculum to the General Dental Council (GDC) for approval by their education committee. This will aim to provide dental technicians with the means for securing registration as a clinical dental technician with the GDC.

Dentistry

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians have been consulted in designing a course of education and training to help secure their registration.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have insisted that denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians are consulted in designing a course of education and training to help secure their registration and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Nicola Sturgeon: Responsibility for the UK regulation, including registration, of dental technicians and clinical dental technicians lies with the General Dental Council (GDC). It is the GDC who determines the appropriate UK standard of proficiency required for a person to practise competently and safely, and the content and standard of the education and training (including practical experience) it considers is necessary for imparting the knowledge and skills required for individuals to obtain that proficiency.

Dentistry

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers will make a copy of the draft course outline for the course of education and training to help secure the registration of denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians publicly available.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11637 on 18 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Details of the course will be made publicly available following approval by the General Dental Council (GDC).

Drug Misuse

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle drug use among children.

Fergus Ewing: We plan to publish a new national drugs strategy by the summer. A key theme of the strategy will be more choices and more chances for young people to live constructive, drug free lives. It is important that children and young people who become involved in problem drug use are supported by services that can address both their drug use and related issues.

General Practitioners

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should make appointments for extended-hours GP surgeries.

Nicola Sturgeon: The new proposals around extended hours are for pre-booked appointments.

  Depending on the actual range of services being offered by each GP practice, patients can expect to book appointments in the extended hours period as they would during normal core hours.

Health

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the £2.5 million for a Healthy Living Centre Transition Fund, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 19 February 2008, will be allocated.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards will manage the disbursement of the Governments’ Transition Fund to individual healthy living centres (HLC). Funding will be provided for HLCs that have good prospects for achieving sustainability beyond the transition funding and continue to have the support of their local partners. The level of transition funding provided for each healthy living centre will not exceed £100,000.

  So far, funding has been allocated to NHS Fife and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for HLCs in their area.

Health

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive has any plans to reduce male circumcision waiting lists to below six months.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-2677 on 20 March 2008. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor0320-01.htm.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what standards are in place to monitor care plans for people in receipt of end-of-life care.

Shona Robison: Good quality, accessible palliative and end of life care is fundamental to those living with and dying from any advanced, progressive or incurable disease, and for their carers. An action plan will be published this year which will ensure a consistent approach in the provision of these services across all NHS boards, reflecting best practice. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care have produced standards regarding care in the NHS and the independent sector. Monitoring of individual care plans takes place within the context of these standards, and other guidance produced by professional bodies and is a matter for NHS boards and those organisations providing palliative and end of life care.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should call 999.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should call the ambulance service.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances people should present themselves at hospital accident and emergency departments.

Shona Robison: Accident and emergency departments are designed to provide immediate emergency care on a 24-hour a day basis for people who show the symptoms of serious illness or who have suffered a significant injury. Where a serious or life threatening situation is thought to exist, patients or members of the public should call the 999 emergency ambulance service so that an emergency ambulance can be sent to the patient’s location. Ambulance paramedic staff will assess whether the patient needs to be taken to an accident and emergency department or can appropriately be treated at the scene.

  Patients can also choose to attend personally at accident and emergency departments and will receive treatment where this is necessary. However, patients should not attend accident and emergency departments for conditions or injuries that are not thought to be serious or significant. Using accident and emergency facilities only where urgent treatment is required means that these services will be able to provide rapid support and treatment to patients who most need it.

  Many NHS boards will also have minor injuries clinics or community casualty units. In general these are available during extended hours but not 24 hours a day. As their titles imply, patients should attend these units for emergency treatment for less serious illnesses or injuries such as sprains, grazes or minor burns.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the adult obesity management programme will be available in all NHS boards.

Shona Robison: It is expected that delivery of Counterweight in those health boards where it is not already in place will commence within 2008.

  Counterweight was made available in Lothian, Lanarkshire and Tayside Health Boards as part of Keep Well Wave 1. Contracts to deliver Counterweight in the Keep Well Wave 2 (Fife, Grampian and Ayrshire and Arran) commenced from April 2008. Discussion to roll out Counterweight in the remaining health boards are on-going.

  Glasgow has not adopted Counterweight as they have a locally developed adult weight management programme in place.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Health department is taking to encourage more effective use of benchmarking and good practice across the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Executive Health Directorates are taking a number of steps to encourage more effective use of benchmarking and good practice across the NHS. To support NHS boards to learn from each other more quickly, national collaborative improvement programmes have been run in a number of specific areas including unscheduled care, primary care, planned care, ophthalmology, out-patients, depression and diagnostics. These programmes, which involve all territorial NHS boards, have been organised to bring front-line staff from the NHS together at learning events and share good practice about improving services with the goal of supporting delivery of specific targets and goals.

  Successful case studies from the service help to provide the evidence base for "High Impact Changes" which can be adapted to suit local conditions but which have been tried and tested in other NHS settings thereby helping local clinicians and managers focus on what is known to work. Through these programmes case studies of local improvements are shared and publicised to help speed up the spread of good practice. These case studies are available in hard copy and electronic format. A copy of The Planned Care Improvement Programme, Improvement Stories published by The Scottish Government in 2008 is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45207).

  In addition, an educational programme is in place to support staff learning from others about good practice. This includes providing regular core improvement skills training, providing a free to use on-line toolkit and specific master class educational events which are broadcast via webcast to ensure more remote staff can access training.

  The national benchmarking programme was established to identify areas of potential improvement in productivity and cost reductions. The national benchmarking programme reports to the NHS Chief Executives Group. Through service specific projects, operational level indicators are identified to focus on and track areas for improvements in front line services. The benchmarking information is shared widely across the service to support changes locally. In 2007-08 the benchmarking programme covered theatres, whole system measurement, mental health, radiology, older people and estates. A copy of The Mental Health Project Final Report: National Benchmarking Project Report 2 published by The Scottish Government in 2008 is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44673).

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons the Health department is learning from cost and performance data released by the NHS in England.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government and the NHS in Scotland ensure that they are aware of performance trends and issues in the NHS in England as well as in Wales, Northern Ireland and other European countries. Relevant comparisons are made where possible, to help set performance and efficiency in Scotland in context. However, there are significant differences in the way in which the NHS operates north and south of the Border, in response to different needs and circumstances and different policy approaches. We review regularly our approach to publishing performance data on the NHS in Scotland to see what further useful data can be made publicly available, and to ensure that we respond to and comply with best practice in public performance reporting.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by NHS Scotland on stroke care in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Justice

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects will be available from seized assets in 2008-09.

Kenny MacAskill: Money recovered via the Proceeds of Crime Act during 2007-08, and available to spend in 2008-09, will not be confirmed until the end of April. Once this figure is confirmed we will make a further announcement regarding our plans.

Legislation

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all Orders in Council it has proposed since May 2007 that have been approved by the Privy Council, showing the (a) date of approval and (b) composition of the Council.

Bruce Crawford: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Please refer to the Privy Council Office website for lists of Orders in Council proposed by the Scottish Government that have been approved by the Privy Council, date of approval and composition of the Council. The website is www.PrivyCouncil.org.uk.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what IT support services are provided for people suffering from depression and drug or alcohol addictions.

Shona Robison: With respect to services for people suffering from depression, the Scottish Government’s awareness raising and active intervention strategies in this area include Breathing Space, a national telephone advice and signposting service for those experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Free and confidential, it is available nationally on 0800 83 85 87 and has a related website www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk The service receives over 4,000 calls per month. Planning is also at an advanced stage on establishing a pilot for a new telephone advice line, "NHS Living Life" to widen access to online and telephone based supports for those in need. This is of particular, but not exclusive, interest for remote and rural communities.

  In addition, innovative web sites have been developed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Forth Valley respectively: www.livinglifetothefull.com and www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk

  For people suffering from drug or alcohol addictions, the web-based National Directory of Drug Services in Scotland provides details of every treatment and rehabilitation facility in Scotland. The directory can be found at www.scottishdrugservices.com. The Scottish Government is also funding "SMART Recovery" therapy in Inverness for released prisoners with drug problems. This pilot links prisoners up via an innovative secure computer system called distance therapy which uses SMS texting and/or hand held devices to provide a more holistic, integrated and cost effective through care plan.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that those who have been trained in cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy or similar talking therapies are freed up from other duties to undertake such work.

Nicola Sturgeon: The planning and deployment of staff to meet service need is a matter for NHS boards to determine locally. All NHS boards are undertaking work to assess their current capacity to deliver evidence based psychological therapies. Work is also underway nationally to support the growth in therapeutic interventions that could benefit patients, for example, the pilot with NHS 24 on telephone based cognitive behaviour therapy and the roll out of Living Life to the Full . Work has also been commissioned to analyse the evidence base for psychological therapies in relation to different conditions and patient groups. NHS boards will use this information when taking forward future planning around this agenda.

  As part of the development work related to talking therapies, NHS Education for Scotland has provided 0.5 whole-time equivalent funding for each NHS board.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct an audit of ME services provided throughout Scotland, as recommended in the scoping exercise undertaken by Action for ME.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Public Health Network is undertaking a needs assessment on CFS/ME building on the outcomes from the Action for ME scoping exercise, which was intended to provide as accurate a picture as possible of the CFS/ME services currently available in Scotland. Part of this process will involve confirming current service provision in Scotland and identifying possible future service needs.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards currently include ME in their local health plans.

Shona Robison: NHS boards’ Local Delivery Plans set out a delivery agreement between the Scottish Government Health Directorates and each NHS board, based on key ministerial targets, as set out in the HEAT (Health Improvement, Efficiency and Governance, Access and Treatment) targets. The HEAT targets for 2008-09 are set out in Better Health, Better Care . They do not refer explicitly to ME, but many will be relevant to services for people living with ME.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to promote the prioritisation of biomedical research into ME.

Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Government’s Health Directorates has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO does not commission research but supports research projects of a sufficiently high standard initiated by the research community in Scotland. This role is well known and advertised throughout the healthcare and academic community.

  We are aware, through the work of ME Research UK, of the biomedical research which is being undertaken in relation to ME.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop guidelines for NHS boards on ME and its treatment.

Shona Robison: We would expect clinicians in Scotland to be aware of the guidelines on CFS/ME published by the National Institute of health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in August 2007.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is developing high-level clinical standards for neurological conditions, which it expects to be ready for consultation in autumn 2008.

  We have provided Action for ME with funding to develop advice on CFS/ME for GPs in Scotland.

NHS Hospitals

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest timetable is for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children reprovision project.

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the full business case for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children reprovision project to be submitted.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are expecting the Outline Business Case for the re-provision of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children re-provision to be submitted to Scottish Government Health Directorates by NHS Lothian at the end of May 2008 for consideration by the Capital Investment Group. The outline business case will, in addition to a detailed option appraisal, set out the timetable for the project, including the expected date for the submission of the Full Business Case.

NHS Hospitals

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings ministers or officials held with NHS Lothian in 2008 regarding the Royal Hospital for Sick Children reprovision project.

Nicola Sturgeon: The re-provision of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children project was one of many topics discussed during the course of the board’s in year review meeting with the Scottish Government on 21 February and a further meeting with officials was held on 4 April. The issue has also been the subject of discussion on numerous occasions in the course of our regular dialogue with NHS Lothian.

NHS Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10122 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 March 2008 and acknowledging that "the particular configuration of services to deliver specialist services differs between areas and is a matter for individual NHS boards", which boards have declined to participate in any supra-regional NHS board specialist services not designated as national services and for which services.

Nicola Sturgeon: The pattern of specialist services required to deliver care for their population is a matter for NHS boards. The three regional planning groups have indicated that no boards have declined to participate in a supra-regional specialist service.

NHS Waiting Times

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a patient who declines the offer of treatment from an alternative NHS board will continue to have an 18 week total waiting time guarantee.

Nicola Sturgeon: : Published guidance on the management of waiting lists makes it clear that when treatment cannot be provided locally, the patient should be made aware of this as early as possible, ideally when the decision to treat is made. This should ensure that the patient is part of the decision-making process.

  An offer of treatment from an alternative NHS board is deemed to be a reasonable offer if it comprises at least two offers of appointment or admission dates, with 21 days or more notice from the date the offer is made. If a patient declines a reasonable offer, then they will either be returned to the care of their GP or their waiting time clock will be reset to zero from the date on which the last offer was declined.

  This guidance can be viewed at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/New-Ways-Applying-Guidance-V3.pdf.

NHS Waiting Times

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a patient who declines the offer of treatment from an alternative clinician will continue to have an 18 week total waiting time guarantee.

Nicola Sturgeon: General Medical Practitioners and General Dental Practitioners generally refer patients to a service rather than to a named clinician. The decision on which list to place a patient is a clinical one taken by the hospital.

  A patient added to a waiting list will be given at least two offers of admission for treatment within the current national maximum waiting time of 18 weeks, with 21 days or more notice from the date the offers are made. This comprises a reasonable offer. The terms of a reasonable offer do not extend to treatment by a specific clinician or health care professional.

  If a patient declines a reasonable offer, then they will either be returned to the care of their GP or their waiting time clock will be reset to zero from the date on which the last offer was declined.

National Health Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10129 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 March 2008 and noting that no complete information is held centrally on how many NHS patients were treated in the private sector and that what data there is from independent hospitals is "under-reported" but "improving", whether it will publish that information.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information held centrally on the number of NHS patients treated as in0patients or day cases in the independent health care sector, for the years 2005 to 2007, is provided below. The figures are based on incomplete submissions to ISD Scotland and are therefore of limited value.

  ISD Scotland is working with NHS boards and the independent health care sector to ensure the submission of complete and accurate data on the numbers of NHS patients treated by independent health care providers, and will publish this information in the future.

  NHSScotland: NHS Patients Treated as In-patients/Day Cases in the Independent Health care Sector* in the Years Ended+ 31 December 2005, 2006 and 2007

  

 Independent Hospital1
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Abbey Carrick Glen Hospital
 567
 514
 158


 Abbey King’s Park Hospital
 4
 35
 0


 Albyn Hospital
 399
 664
 381


 Fernbrae Hospital
 244
 18
 1


 Glasgow Nuffield Hospital
 4
 149
 87


 Murrayfield Hospital
 230
 134
 128


 Ross Hall Hospital
 126
 90
 16


 Total
 1,574
 1,604
 771



  Source ISD Scotland: SMR01 – in-patient and day case episodes in general and acute wards (non-obsteric non-psychiatric specialties.

  Notes:

  *Activity recording of NHS-paid activity in the independent health care sector is known to be imcomplete. ISD Scotland are engaged with NHS boards and the Independent Healthcare Sector to resolve this.

  + "Year end" based on date of discharge.

  1. Independent Hospitals as identified by Independent Healthcare Division, Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care.

National Health Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the requirement for all NHS boards to achieve 2% efficiency savings, how it will measure the achievement of these savings.

Nicola Sturgeon: Each project in the Scottish efficiency programme has an assigned portfolio manager who works with the relevant portfolio to monitor progress across the financial year. Each portfolio will be assessed against delivery of its overall efficiency target firstly in June 2008, then in September, December and March each year, with the annual outturn report, based on an assessment of what has been delivered in the full financial year, being published in autumn. The assessment will consider not only the progress on delivery of the individual projects within a portfolio, but also the extent to which the portfolio is on course to deliver against its overall target and the action being taken to ensure delivery.

Organ Donation

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered organ donors there have been in each year since 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon: Numbers on the organ donor register at the end of each year are as follows:

  

 
 Year End


 Country
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 England
 3,951,466
 5,781,002
 6,802,302
 7,749,727
 8,505,695


 Northern Ireland
 136,391
 140,431
 147,698
 154,655
 218,189


 Scotland
 426,944
 641,016
 743,293
 861,670
 993,534


 Wales
 331,465
 421,794
 477,152
 520,904
 566,737


 Total (UK)
 4,846,266
 6,984,243
 8,170,445
 9,286,956
 10,284,155



  

 
 Year End


 Country
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 England
 9,375,895
 10,306,342
 11,313,654
 12,174,756


 Northern Ireland
 258,825
 304,744
 352,197
 393,513


 Scotland
 1,116,472
 1,224,440
 1,376,563
 1,500,743


 Wales
 608,133
 655,371
 716,027
 762,327


 Total (UK)
 11,359,325
 12,490,897
 13,758,441
 14,831,339



  Source: UK Transplant.

Organ Donation

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage people to register as organ donors.

Nicola Sturgeon: The focus of all organ donation advertising and publicity campaigns in recent years has been to encourage people in Scotland to add their name to the NHS organ donor register. This counts as a form of authorisation in terms of the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006, which is intended to make sure that the wishes people express in life are acted on after their death. It is also important that people let their nearest relatives know their wishes.

Prescriptions

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions were issued for Prozac in the Lothians in each of the last 10 years and what the total cost was to NHS Lothian in each year.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of prescriptions dispensed and the gross ingredient cost of fluoxetine (Prozac) in NHS Lothian for the financial years ended 31 March 1998 to 2007. The data given refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors, but do not take into account medicines dispensed by hospitals or hospital-based clinics.

  

 Year Ended 
31 March
 No of Items Dispensed
 Gross Ingredient Cost (£)


 1998
 44,207
 1,313,401


 1999
 48,902
 1,473,903


 2000
 54,820
 1,606,761


 2001
 60,466
 862,483


 2002
 67,036
 686,732


 2003
 73,386
 712,034


 2004
 78,018
 597,005


 2005
 79,528
 380,120


 2006
 84,220
 375,005


 2007
 92,728
 509,101



  Note: The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland.

Rail Network

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of subsidy it provides to train operating companies.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is responsible for the ScotRail franchise. The budget for franchise payments in financial year 2008-09 is £306.2 million. In addition, a small payment is made annually to the cross country franchise for the provision of additional services at Dunbar. Because this has been negotiated commercially, disclosure of the exact sum could prejudice future negotiations.

Rail Service

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains were delayed between Dalmuir station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations in each year from 1997 to 2007, broken down by month.

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains were cancelled between Dalmuir station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations in each year from 1997 to 2007, broken down by month.

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains were delayed between Milngavie station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations in each year from 1997 to 2007, broken down by month.

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains were cancelled between Milngavie station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations in each year from 1997 to 2007, broken down by month.

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains were delayed between Helensburgh Central station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations in each year from 1997 to 2007, broken down by month.

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains were cancelled between Helensburgh Central station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations in each year from 1997 to 2007, broken down by month.

Stewart Stevenson: The information required is not held centrally.

Rail Service

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average price is of an off-peak rail ticket between Dalmuir station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations.

Stewart Stevenson: The price of an off-peak rail ticket between Dalmuir station and Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations is £3.05.

Rail Service

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average price is of a peak-rate rail ticket between Dalmuir station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations.

Stewart Stevenson: The price of a peak-rate rail ticket between Dalmuir station and Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations is £2.55 (single) and £4.30 (return).

Rail Service

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average price is of an off-peak rail ticket between Helensburgh Central station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations.

Stewart Stevenson: The price of an off-peak rail ticket between Helensburgh Central station and Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations is £5.25.

Rail Service

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average price is of a peak-rate rail ticket between Helensburgh Central station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations.

Stewart Stevenson: The price of a peak–rate rail ticket between Helensburgh Central station and Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations is £4.60 (single) and £7.45 (return).

Rail Service

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average price is of an off-peak rail ticket between Milngavie station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations.

Stewart Stevenson: The price of an off-peak rail ticket between Milngavie station and Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations is £2.95.

Rail Service

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average price is of a peak-rate rail ticket between Milngavie station and Glasgow (a) Queen Street and (b) Central stations.

Stewart Stevenson: The price of a peak-rate rail ticket between Milngavie station and Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations is £2.45 (single) and £3.90 (return).

Research

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on plans for an institute of life sciences in Dundee.

Fiona Hyslop: I have agreed to provide £10 million to establish a new institute in Dundee led by Sir Philip Cohen. The institute will be called the Scottish Institute for Cell Signalling.

  Funding for the institute will be provided by the Funding Council via the University of Dundee, while the Funding Council will work in partnership with Scottish Enterprise to maximise delivery of commercial outputs.

  The institute will maximise the benefits to Scotland and add value to the existing public investment in life sciences. I look forward to visiting Dundee and meeting Sir Philip Cohen to discuss plans to take the Institute forward.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were admitted to hospital as a result of a fall in a care home or nursing home in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Following the work of the falls prevention group, the Scottish Government published guidance earlier this year for NHS boards, community health partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health. The guidance is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

  Research evidence indicates that up to 30% of falls amongst community-based older people could be prevented through comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.

Sexual Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to raise awareness of how HIV infection is spread and how it can be prevented.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government currently fund a number of voluntary organisations which focus on HIV. This helps us to deliver the aims of Respect and Responsibility , our sexual health strategy, through the delivery of HIV prevention work. NHS boards across Scotland also undertake work locally on HIV prevention funded through the Scottish Government’s blood borne virus funding.

  In addition we have begun preparations for a public awareness campaign and increased public information as part of our aims to improve attitudes to relationships and sexual health, this will include information on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Sexual Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will include the voluntary sector in future information and advice strategies to assist in the prevention of HIV.

Shona Robison: On driving forward implementation of the national sexual health strategy and action plan Respect and Responsibility , the Scottish Government currently works closely with and funds a number of voluntary organisations which focus on HIV prevention. We are keen to continue and strengthen this partnership working and will shortly be facilitating a national meeting of key interests from the statutory and voluntary sectors to discuss ways to increase the profile of HIV/AIDS and related prevention activity in Scotland.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many freedom of information requests were made to the Parliament by (a) members of the public, (b) MSPs, (c) parliamentary researchers and (d) journalists in each year since the enactment of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Tricia Marwick: Requests from Members of the Public
 Requests from MSPs
 Requests from Parliamentary Researchers
 Requests from Journalists


 2005
 
 
 
 


 January
 22
 0
 0
 18


 February
 17
 1
 0
 10


 March
 18
 3
 0
 4


 April
 4
 0
 1
 7


 May
 10
 2
 0
 9


 June
 10
 0
 2
 17


 July
 7
 2
 1
 10


 August
 1
 1
 1
 7


 September
 7
 2
 0
 9


 October
 12
 0
 1
 20


 November
 13
 0
 1
 12


 December
 9
 0
 0
 9


 Total
 140
 11
 7
 132


 2006
 
 
 
 


 January
 3
 0
 0
 7


 February
 7
 1
 0
 7


 March
 10
 0
 3
 29


 April
 9
 0
 0
 9


 May
 14
 0
 0
 4


 June
 7
 0
 0
 14


 July
 5
 0
 0
 7


 August
 12
 0
 0
 4


 September
 4
 1
 2
 3


 October
 1
 0
 0
 6


 November
 12
 4
 2
 10


 December
 7
 0
 1
 6


 Total
 91
 6
 8
 107


 2007
 
 
 
 


 January
 10
 0
 1
 23


 February
 15
 0
 0
 71


 March
 6
 4
 3
 114


 April
 7
 4
 0
 19


 May
 4
 0
 0
 30


 June
 4
 1
 0
 10


 July
 11
 2
 2
 20


 August
 1
 0
 0
 19


 September
 6
 1
 0
 7


 October
 8
 0
 0
 11


 November
 3
 1
 0
 11


 December
 3
 0
 0
 2


 Total
 78
 13
 6
 337


 January
 3
 0
 
 4


 February
 12
 1
 1
 53


 March 
 1
 0
 1
 5


 Total
 16
 1
 2
 62


 Grand Total
 325
 31
 23
 638

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost has been of processing freedom of information requests to the Parliament in each month since the enactment of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Tricia Marwick: The enclosed table sets out the cost of replying to freedom of information requests based on the time recorded by Freedom of Information Action Officers and Decision Takers who have prepared replies to FOI requests up until 6 March 2008. The time recorded does not include input by staff in SPICe (The Information Centre), the Directorate of Legal Services or the Media Relations Office because input in these areas is overarching and not necessarily specific to individual requests. The cost has been calculated at £35.39 per hour, the current hourly rate of a grade 5 member of staff.

  

 Year
 Month
 Total (£)


 2005
 1
 14,242


 
 2
 10,033


 
 3
 4,569


 
 4
 3,617


 
 5
 3,979


 
 6
 13,246


 
 7
 11,530


 
 8
 4,192


 
 9
 3,302


 
 10
 10,291


 
 11
 7,660


 
 12
 2,219


 2005 Total
 
 88,880


 2006
 1
 2,714


 
 2
 5,124


 
 3
 13,514


 
 4
 2,571


 
 5
 8,977


 
 6
 2,155


 
 7
 3,976


 
 8
 1,991


 
 9
 3,744


 
 10
 1,977


 
 11
 6,358


 
 12
 3,319


 2006 Total
 
 56,420


 2007
 1
 3,929


 
 2
 8,005


 
 3
 4,645


 
 4
 4,749


 
 5
 2,715


 
 6
 2,216


 
 7
 4,358


 
 8
 1,690


 
 9
 1,501


 
 10
 1,483


 
 11
 1,280


 
 12
 416


 2007 Total
 
 36,986


 2008
 1
 655


 
 2
 1,232


 
 3
 9


 2008 Total
 
 1,895


 Grand Total
 
 184,181

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost has been of processing freedom of information requests made to the Parliament by (a) members of the public, (b) MSPs, (c) parliamentary researchers and (d) journalists in each month since the enactment of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Tricia Marwick: The enclosed tables set out the cost of processing freedom of information requests for the specified categories of requesters based on the time recorded by Freedom of Information Action Officers and Decision Takers who have prepared replies to FOI requests up until 6 March 2008. The time recorded does not include input by staff in SPICe (The Information Centre), the Directorate of Legal Services and the Media Relations Office because expertise in these areas is overarching and not necessarily specific to individual requests. The cost has been calculated at £35.39 per hour, the current hourly rate of a grade 5 member of staff.

  

 2005
 Requests by Members of the Public (£)
 Requests by MSPs
 Requests by Parliamentary Researchers
 Requests by Journalists


 January
 1,481
 0
 0
 10,328


 February
 336
 150
 0
 4,675


 March
 941
 1,593
 0
 531


 April
 1,010
 0
 725
 1,324


 May
 510
 62
 0
 1,478


 June
 2,777
 0
 823
 9,632


 July
 1,796
 306
 18
 9,373


 August
 73
 71
 396
 3,551


 September
 2,179
 0
 0
 1,123


 October
 1,577
 0
 0
 8,679


 November
 437
 0
 18
 6,781


 December
 888
 0
 0
 1,331


 Total
 14,005
 2,183
 1,980
 58,822


 2006
 
 
 
 


 January
 184
 0
 0
 2,353


 February
 1,074
 71
 0
 2,663


 March
 2,552
 0
 593
 7,458


 April
 754
 0
 0
 1,340


 May
 5,452
 0
 0
 3,304


 June
 1,046
 0
 0
 717


 July
 2,207
 0
 0
 1,770


 August
 1,067
 00
 0
 796


 September
 600
 1,476
 1,239
 191


 October
 110
 0
 0
 727


 November
 2,821
 340
 115
 3,082


 December
 2,374
 0
 106
 549


 Total
 20,239
 1,886
 2,053
 24,950


 2007
 
 
 
 


 January
 876
 0
 71
 2,858


 February
 2,601
 0
 00
 5,404


 March
 379
 138
 65
 3,948


 April
 889
 248
 0
 2,986


 May
 156
 0
 0
 2,535


 June
 230
 1,299
 0
 687


 July
 1,109
 239
 328
 2,638


 August
 177
 0
 0
 1,194


 September
 672
 53
 0
 775


 October
 274
 0
 0
 1,059


 November
 18
 53
 0
 1,200


 December
 257
 0
 0
 159


 Total
 7,639
 2,030
 464
 25,444


 2008
 
 
 
 


 January
 319
 0
 88
 53


 February
 487
 35
 0
 710


 March
 0
 0
 0
 9


 Total
 805
 0
 88
 772


 Grand Total
 42,688
 6,134
 4,585
 109,988

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many freedom of information requests have been made to the Parliament by journalists since the enactment of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, broken down by (a) newspaper and (b) cost of processing.

Tricia Marwick: The supply of a breakdown of information to the level of detail requested would incur a disproportionate cost. However, we can identify that during 2006, 2007 and in 2008 to date, two journalists from two different newspapers have submitted the highest number of freedom of information requests.

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on which occasions it has had to employ additional staff to deal with freedom of information requests to the Parliament since the enactment of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and what total costs arose from such action.

Tricia Marwick: On one occasion on receipt of 39 FOI Requests submitted within a period of 17 working days. The cost incurred to date has been £1,053.18.

Freedom of Information

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the cost of processing freedom of information requests to the Parliament has risen in the last year.

Tricia Marwick: The total recorded cost of processing freedom of information based on the time recorded by FOI Decision Takers and Action Officers who have answered requests indicates that despite an increase in the number of requests received from journalists during 2007 (outnumbering requests received from members of the public for the first time) the cost of processing has not risen in the last year.